Calathea plant named &#39;BICA146&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calathea  cultivar named ‘BICA146’ is disclosed, characterized by purple-white flowers, unique leaf texture and coloration. The new variety is a  Calathea , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Calathea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BICA146’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a new cultivar of Calathea. The new variety is the product of chance discovery, by the inventor, Rene Denis. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation from the unpatented commercial variety Calathea ‘Gekko Pink’.

The new variety was first selected by the inventor, in the breeder's commercial greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium during the Fall of 2009. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘BICA146’, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BICA146’ was first performed in a commercial laboratory in Belgium by tissue culture in December of 2010. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation, many generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BICA146’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BICA146.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BICA146’ as a new and distinct Calathea cultivar:

1. Purple-white flower color.

2. Leaf texture.

3. Leaf coloration.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BICA146’ are similar to the parent in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘BICA146’ differs from the ‘Gekko Pink’ in the following characteristics:

1. Darker flower color.

2. Young inflorescence is much darker.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BICA146’ is best compared to the parent variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs illustrate in full color a typical plant of ‘BICA146’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Beervelde, Belgium. The plant is 10 months old from a rooted cutting, in a 17 cm pot. FIG. 1 is the entire plant. FIG. 2 is a close up of the flowers. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe a typical plant of ‘BICA146’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Beervelde, Belgium. The plant is 231 days old from a rooted cutting, in a 17 cm pot. Temperatures ranged between 21° C. and 26° C. (ideally 26° C.) during the day 19° C. and 23° C. (ideally 23° C.) at night. The ideal growing conditions for this variety could not be met because of various reasons resulting in a slightly shorter plant size than under ideal conditions. Supplemental lighting was given. Artificial lighting of 14 hours a day from cutting to end of finished plant (minimum of 3700 lux). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calathea ‘BICA146’ -   Propagation:     -   -   First propagation method.—Tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: 14 to 16 days at             approximately 21° C. Winter: 15 to 17 days at approximately             21° C.         -   Root description.—Non-fleshy, moderately fibrous, densely             branched, colored grey-brown, near RHS N199B. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Tender annual, typically used for indoor             ornamental purposes. Overall plant shape is broad obovate,             top flattened.         -   Height.—Average: 39.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average: 44.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Main stem.—No main stems present, leaves grow in basal             rosettes.         -   Branching characteristics.—No main or lateral stems present,             leaves grow in basal rosettes. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Distichous Quantity: Approximately 4 per             main rosette. Average Length: 19.0 cm (excl. petiole).             Average Width: 10.7 cm. Shape of blade: Unequal broad             elliptic to unequal broad obovate Apex: Abruptly acute Base:             Rounded Margin: Entire, slightly to moderately wavy Texture             of top surface: Glabrous, moderately glossy Pubescence: No             leaf pubescence Aspect: Petioles in an average angle of 80°             (0° =horizontal); leaf-bases in an average angle of 30° to             horizontal, leaf-tips pointed downward in an average angle             of −50° to horizontal. Color: Young foliage upper side:             Yellow-green; near RHS 145A, margins lighter; near RHS 149D,             outer edge flushed darker; near RHS 145A and 145B Young             foliage under side: Yellow-green; in between near RHS 145A             and 147D, margins lighter; near RHS 144D, outer edge flushed             darker; in between near RHS 145A and 147D. Mature foliage             upper side: Green; near RHS 143A but much darker, blotched             lighter along the main vein; near RHS 143A and 143B, margins             greyed-green; 191B, outer edge green; near RHS 143A but much             darker. Mature foliage under side: Greyed-green; in between             near RHS 189A and 191A, margins green to greyed-green; in             between near RHS 138B and 191B Venation: Type: Pinnate.             Venation color upper side: Yellow-green; near RHS 146D.             Venation color under side: Yellow-green; near RHS 152D.             Petiole: Length: Average 15.8 cm (excl. geniculum).             Diameter: Average: 0.4 cm Color: Yellow-green; near RHS 152A             to 152B. Texture: Glabrous, moderately glossy Petiole             Sheath: Present: Yes Length: Average: 10.7 cm. Diameter:             Average: 0.5 cm. Color: Transparent yellow-green; near RHS             152D. Geniculum: Present: Yes Shape: Rounded, glabrous,             slightly glossy Length: Average: 2.4 cm. Diameter: Average:             0.45 cm. Color: Yellow-green; near RHS 152A. Other Features:             No. -   Flower:     -   -   Flowering characteristics.—Inflorescences grow from the             centers of the stems.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—33 weeks.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Inflorescence             upright, consisting of an average of 7 colorful bracts and             an average of 7 whitish-colored lower bracts with small,             individual flowers in between. Upper bracts shaped ovate,             average length: 4.0 cm, average width: 2.0 cm, upper side             colored purple; near RHS 75C, margins red-purple; near RHS             72A to 72B. Under side colored red-purple; near RHS 72C             Lower bracts shaped obcordate, average length: 3.1 cm,             average width: 3.7 cm, both sides colored white; near RHS             NN155D, base darker; near RHS NN155A.         -   Rate of flower opening: 20 to 30 days from bud to fully             opened flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Average: 15 days.         -   Quantity of buds and flowers per plant.—Average: 4             inflorescences.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Bud.—Shape: Narrow oblong Length: 2.2 cm Diameter: 0.7 cm             Color: White; near RHS NN155D, base darker; near RHS NN155A.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: Inflorescence: 1.3 cm. Depth:             Inflorescence: 2.5 cm.         -   Petals (tepals).—Quantity: Average: 4 Arrangement: Rotate             (cruciform), upper tepal differs from lateral and lower             tepal in size and colour. Length: 2.7 cm Width: Upper tepal             average 0.7 cm, lateral and lower tepals average 0.4 cm.             Shape: Lower 75% fused in a tube, upper (free) 25% shaped             Obcordate. Apex: Upper tepal broad acute, lateral and lower             tepals acute. Base: Fused Margin: Entire Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: both sides glabrous and slightly glossy.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: White; near RHS NN155B,             upper tepal striped and tinged red-purple; near RHS 71A and             72A. When opening, lower surface: White; near RHS NN155B,             upper tepal striped and tinged red-purple; near RHS 72A.             Fully opened, upper surface: White; near RHS NN155B, upper             tepal striped and tinged red-purple; near RHS 71A and 72A.             Fully opened, lower surface: White; near RHS NN155B, upper             tepal striped and tinged red-purple; near RHS 72A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 29.8 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Angle: About 0°             to the lateral branch (=vertical) Strength: Moderately             strong Texture: Glabrous, moderately glossy Color:             Greyed-green; near RHS 195A.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Average: 2.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Oblong Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color:             White; near RHS NN155B Pollen: Color: Yellow; near RHS 11D             Quantity: Low.         -   Pistil.—Number: Average: 1 Length: Average: 0.8 cm. Style:             Length: 0.1 cm. Color: White; near RHS NN155B Stigma: Shape:             Acute Color: White; near RHS NN155B Ovary Color: White; near             RHS NN155B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—No seeds/fruits detected to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Normal for Calathea.         -   Temperature tolerance.—17-30 degrees Celsius. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calathea plant named ‘BICA146’ as herein illustrated and described. 